Cablegate: Burma Forced Relocation Demarche Delivered to Brunei

VZCZCXRO4061
PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHBD #0178 1610028
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 090028Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4267
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN 000178

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MTS & EAP/MLS:COPE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PREL BM BX
SUBJECT: BURMA FORCED RELOCATION DEMARCHE DELIVERED TO BRUNEI

Ref: A) State 59122
B) Bandar Seri Begawan 144

1. (SBU) Charge delivered ref A points on June 4 to Joanna Hj
Daniel, Assistant Director of the Political I Department (ASEAN
member countries) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
(MoFAT). She had no immediate response to our points but said that
she would ensure that our message received due attention with her
ministry.

2. (SBU) Joanna reviewed GoB humanitarian assistance provided to
Burma to date. In addition to the B$100,000 the GoB has provided
directly to the Burmese government (ref A), Brunei pledged an
additional B$1 million at the Rangoon donor meeting last week. As
with the previous donation, the GoB intends to channel the funds
directly to the Burmese government and not/not through the UN or
non-governmental relief agencies. In addition, a public fund was
established to allow private donations to be channeled into relief
efforts. She did not have data as to how much had been donated to
date or where those funds had been directed.

FRIEDMAN

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